From Pillar to Post 



feature of an October afternoon that is full to 

 the very brim with delightful significance. We 

 find such birds set down in the text books as 

 "stragglers," thus giving as mean an impres- 

 sion as possible, and, worse than that, an incor- 

 rect one. Late autumn migrants warrant no 

 such conclusion as their being victims of some 

 mishap. They fly with vigor, hold themselves 

 erect and scan the prospect proud as Lucifer, 

 and, better than all else, whistle a few bars of 

 a merry tune, or warble in lower strain, as their 

 mood directs. Such are these scattered birds 

 when within the range of vision ; when not, then 

 the no less suggestive wandering voices in the 

 air. 



Assuming that we have been diligent until 

 now and studied Nature since our year's out- 

 ings commenced, we can now contemplate her 

 as a whole and put by analysis until spring 

 comes again. It is well to make such a change 

 at the proper time. He misses much who can 

 see a diamond only as a form of carbon. The 

 sparkle of the crystal is lost, and our lives need 

 the diamond's play of light and color as much 

 as the body needs food. Sunshine resting on 

 an autumn leaf should not be profaned by math- 



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